• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.315-322
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• 2020

A 210-day experiment was conducted to examine the effects of starvation on survival, the gonadosomatic index (GSI), hepatosomatic index (HSI), and the intestinosomatic index (ISI), and histological changes in the renal tubule epithelium, midgut epithelium, and hepatocytes in Far Eastern catfish (Silurus asotus). The survival rate decreased to 92.2±0.47% in the fed group and 74.4±2.59% in the starved group during the 210-day experimental period. GSI, HSI, and ISI were lowest in the starved group (p<0.05). The hepatocyte nuclear area, hepatocyte cell area, the nuclear height of the midgut epithelium, and the nuclear height of the kidney were highest in the fed group (p<0.05). The hepatocyte nuclear area, nuclear height of the midgut epithelium, and nuclear height of the kidney were lowest in the starved group(p<0.05). The numbers of melano-macrophages (MMs) found in the kidney cells increased during starvation in this species. This suggests that thinner body cavity regions, the contraction of hepatocyte nuclear sites, and the spreading of kidney cell MMs in this species could be used as alternative indicators for identifying starvation conditions. Therefore, the results from our study provide accurate indications of the nutritional status of Far Eastern catfish.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.23-26
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• 2006

Effects of sera from several fish species and insulin on the development of cultured Silurus asotus hepatocytes were investigated. Hepatocytes with high viability (95%) were obtained from the livers of male catfish by two step collagenase perfusion. Isolated hepatocytes, initially showed a typical round-shape, firmly attached to the culture dish within 24 h. In the presence of catfish serum, hepatocytes attached each other, spread well on the dish and developed into monolayer after 3-4 days of incubation. Cells within the established monolayer became polygonal in shape and their nuclei and boundaries being clearly visible under the microscope. In contrast, when incubated in FBS-supplemented or serum-free medium, cells managed to form small clusters, each made of 2-10 cells. Cells in FBS-supplemented medium further developed into larger clusters. However, these clusters failed to develope into monolayer. In addition, when insulin was deprived from culture medium, formation of monolayer also failed. From these data, it can be concluded that the presence of both catfish serum and insulin is necessary for the formation of monolayer of catfish hepatocytes and the functional role of fish serum may differ from that of insulin and can not be displaced by FBS-supplementation.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.217-226
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• 2009

Effects of sera from several fish species on monolayer formation, viability and functions of catfish hepatocytes were investigated to establish a primary hepatocyte culture system for screening endocrine disruptors. Hepatocytes of Korean catfish (Silurus asotus) were attached and formed monolayer using the media supplemented with their own serum or sera from eel and tilapia, but not with fetal bovine serum (FBS). The amount of fish sera (0.5~3%) for monolayer culture of the catfish hepatocytes was less than 1/10 of FBS (5~20%) that is commonly used for primary culture of hepatocytes of other species. The results indicate that FBS can be replaced with sera from some fish species and the fish sera are more effective than FBS in maintaining the shape and functions of the hepatocytes. The primary culture of catfish hepatocytes was maintained monolayer with fish sera for at least 10 days, which makes possible to be used for screening the activities of endocrine disruptors. In conclusion, the primary culture system of hepatocytes with fish sera in the present study could be a useful tool for screening and studying endocrine disruptors.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.193-204
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• 2017

The influence of triploidization on histological characteristics of retina, trunk kidney, liver and midgut tissue, and cell cycle of tail fin and gill tissue in far eastern catfish, Silurus asotus were analyzed. In the infertile triploid fish, the nucleus and/or cell size of secondary proximal tubule cells of trunk kidney, hepatocyte and midgut epithelium are much larger than those of the corresponding cells in the diploid fish (P<0.05). However, triploid tissue showed fewer number of outer nuclear layer in retina and nuclei in secondary proximal tubule of trunk kidney than those for diploid tissue. The mean percentages of the $G_l-$, the S- and the $G_2+M-phase$ fractions were 92.5%, 3.2% and 4.3% in tail fin tissue of diploid, and 93.4%, 2.6% and 4.0% in those of triploid, respectively. There were no significant differences in the percentages of each cell cycle fraction between diploid and triploid. The mean percentages of each phase fractions were 75.1%, 11.1% and 13.8% in gill tissue of diploid and 85.2%, 8.9% and 5.9% in those of triploid, respectively. The differences of cell cycle between tail fin tissue and gill tissue were statistically significant in diploid and triploid (P<0.05). Also, the differences between diploid and triploid were statistically significant in tail fin tissue and gill tissue (P<0.05). Cyclin D1 and cyclin E expressions were not significantly difference between gill tissue and tail fin tissue, and protein expressions of induced triploid were higher than those of diploid. Results from this study suggest that some characteristics in the triploid exhibiting larger cell and nucleus size with fewer number of cell than diploid can be used as an indicator in the identification of triploidization and ploidy level in far eastern catfish.